Today we’d like to introduce you to Cynthia Pelzer.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Cynthia. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
In High School (circa 2001), I convinced my mom to hire a photographer. I styled, creatively directed, and modeled for my own photoshoot. I cut out pages from magazines that served as inspiration for my poses and got to work. It brought me so much joy! From then on, I would have mini photoshoots in my house with wardrobe changes and a disposable camera. I honestly don’t know what my goal was other than to create. Fast forward a years of promo gigs and freelance modeling, in 2010 I launched SWANKYCYN with the goal of it being a digital online shoe magazine in which I shared my fashion sense as well as my spiritual journey. I was utterly obsessed with shoes and everyone knew it. Back then blogging was very new. A lot of people used websites as journals/diaries or gossip sites. I wanted to create something different.
I paid $3,000 to have my website custom made. I was inspired by tabloid magazines and fashion magazine big wigs. Fashion history, polls, style, editorials, shoe closet interviews, events, and videos (before videos and YouTube is what it is now) were all incorporated into the site.
After a few setbacks and hiatuses SWANKYCYN ultimately transitioned into what it is now. A faith, fashion, and lifestyle blog. I share a little bit of everything with the focus being beauty from the inside out. And out of SC, Swanktuary Boutique was born. A shop where women go to look, feel, and be blessed!
As my life and the internet evolved, there have been many ups and down but I still stand. Now more than ever I aim to be a solid woman with a solid brand. That means being of impact in real life not just online.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has most certainly not been a smooth ride. At one point, I was dealing with losing my apt, car, and job so I had to start from scratch. Meanwhile, not too long after I also lost my $3,000 custom built website because it wasn’t backed up (huge learning lesson). To top it off someone took my .com from me and was selling it for over $2,500. I considered quitting it all but I couldn’t. I waited for SWANKYCYN.com to become available and snatched it back up.
Aside from that, the biggest struggle for me has been balanced. I got married, moved around a lot, and am now pregnant. Each stage required me to reevaluate my goals for SWANKYCYN and who I had become. As a woman, wife, brand, and now mom I am constantly learning what matters most. Balancing being authentic while giving supporters what they want and earning income from SC is no easy feat. I think it’s important for any creative to figure out how to best cultivate their passion without losing themselves.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Swankycyn/Swanktuary – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
SWANKYCYN is a faith, fashion, and lifestyle blog where I inspire women to define their beauty from the inside out. Swanktuary Boutique is my online shop where women come to look, feel, and be blessed. My goal is to encourage women to be blessed and well dressed. That means reflecting their wholeness in all areas of their life.
What I’m most proud of is my faith, my perseverance, and my heart for women. My relationship with God enables me to navigate it all and never give up! And the gift he has given me to encourage women is not something I take lightly. I have been broken on the inside and well dressed on the outside. I have been whole on the inside and raggedy on the outside. Now I find both my inner and outer beauty aligned, perfectly reflecting who I truly am. I desire the same for each and every woman, as I know firsthand it’s something so many women desperately need. From my experience and inner work, I offer women the tools and wisdom to do the same.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
What I like most about Hollywood is how centrally located it is. That means options galore and easy access to all surrounding areas. There is always something going on in LA and beautiful places to see.
What I like least is the parking (which is pretty much most of LA) and that Hollywood isn’t exactly family-friendly to me.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.swankycyn.com/
- Email: [email protected]
Image Credit:
Daisy Noemi
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